Zebras are known for their signature black-and-white stripes and a new study published in the journal Nature Communications has found more evidence that biting flies are actually the reason behind the evolution of this unique coloration.

The plains zebra (Equus quagga) is native to Africa, and is the most common zebra found. Its range extends from southern Ethiopia to East Africa, with a southern range including Angola and eastern South Africa. Its other common names include Burchell’s zebra and the common zebra. The plains zebra holds six recognized subspecies including Grant’s zebra and the maneless zebra.
The plains zebra and the mountain zebra are classified in the subgenus Hippotigris and appear to be more...

The mountain zebra (Equus zebra) is native to the southwestern areas of Namibia, Angola, and South Africa. It prefers a habitat within mountainous areas, woodlands, open grasslands, or areas with abundant plant life at elevations of up to 3,300 feet. The diet of this zebra consists of buds, roots, fruits, bark, and tufted grass within its small range.
The classification of the mountain zebra and its subspecies is debatable. Previously a subspecies within the subgenus Hippotigris, the Cape...

Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest wild equid in existence today. It is also known as the imperial zebra. It is the most endangered of all species of zebra. Named after Jules Grevy, this zebra can be found in Ethiopia, but mainly in Kenya. At one time, Grevy’s zebra roamed Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia, but its populations have dwindled and now reside in small areas in northern Kenya, and a few small areas in Ethiopia.
In 1882, a French naturalist named Émile Oustalet...

Burchell’s zebra (Equus quagga burchellii) is a subspecies of the plains zebra, and its range extends from the northwest from southern Botswana to Etosha and the Kaokoveld. Its southeastern range includes Swaziland and Kwazulu-Natal. This zebra has become extinct in the middle areas of its range, surviving in the southeastern and northwestern areas.
Burchell’s zebra, as with other zebras, have densely populated the plains of Africa. However, it was thought that by 1910 no wild...

Grant’s zebra (Equus quagga boehmi) are among the six subspecies of the plains zebra, and the smallest of them. This zebra is from the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Its range extends from Zambia, west of the Luangwa River, west to Kariba, Shaba Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its northern range extends to Kibanzao Plateau. In Tanzania, its range extends from Nyangaui and Kibwezi in the north and south into southwestern Kenya and can go as far south as Sotik. Grant’s zebra...

A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.